10 World Famous Gemstones

With commodity prices skyrocketing, one of the rarest commodities in the world marketplace is the precious gemstone.  We’ve gathered a collection of some of the most famous, rare and valuable gemstones in high demand from around the world.

AP Graphics Rated as the largest Fancy Red by the Gemological Institute of America.Size: 5.11 caratsShape/Cut: triangular cutCurrent Owner/Location: Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd.

This fancy vivid blue stone, founded in the Buyimai district, originally came from a rough stone that was 777 carats. It is considered a rare diamond because of its color.Size: 27.64 caratsShape/Cut: heart-shapedCurrent Owner/Location: De Beers Group

When exposed to short wave ultra-violet light, this steel blue diamond phosphoresces a red color. It’s also said to be cursed after its history with previous owner Evalyn Walsh McLean.  Not only did Evalyn’s first born son die in an automobile accident, but her husband Ned took off with another woman and aimlessly spent their fortune.  Although she herself blamed fate, everyone else blamed her misfortune on the stone. Size: 45.54 caratsShape/Cut: round brilliant cutCurrent Owner/Location: Smithsonian Institute

This pale yellow stone is remarkable due to its cut with symmetrical facets and lack of a pavilion.Size: 55.23 caratsShape/Cut: shield shapedCurrent Owner/Location: Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum in Paris

Perhaps the finest pink diamond in the world to date. It took approximately 20 months to cut and a team of eight individuals to fashion from the original 100-carat stone.Size: 59.60 carats Shape/Cut: oval mixed cut with a step-cut crown and a brilliant cut pavilionCurrent Owner/Location: The Steinmetz Group

It is named after Georges Marciano’s (founder of Guess? Jeans) daughter Chloe and is the largest top-quality, brilliant-cut white diamond ever to appear at auction.Size: 84.37Shape/Cut: brilliant cutCurrent Owner/Location: Georges Marciano

AP Graphics One of the few diamonds known to weigh over 100 carats and to have such a distinctively strong yellow color. Size: 101.29 caratsShape/Cut: cushion cutCurrent Owner/Location: SIBA Corporation

Its name means “Mountain of Light” and it’s said to be cursed. Legend says that whoever comes into its possession will one day rule the world.  Coincidentally, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth once had ownership of it. However, no man risks wearing it because all men who have had possession of it suffered misfortune or even untimely death.Size: 108.93 caratsShape/Cut: rose-cutCurrent Owner/Location: The Louvre Museum in Paris

AP Graphics This stone is the second largest faceted D-Flawless diamond in the world.Size: 203.04 carats Shape/Cut: pear shapedCurrent Owner/Location: De Beers

Originally 3106.75 carats (rough), this stone is one of the largest diamonds ever to be found.  The original was cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller ones. This is the largest piece produced from the original.Size: 530.2 caratsShape/Cut: pear shapedCurrent Owner/Location: Mounted in the British crown jewels> Replay This Slideshow

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